Self-loading recoil-operated firearm



March 22 1949. v. A. BROWNING v 2,465,195

SELF-LOADING RECOIL-OPERATED FIREARM Filed July 18, 1945 2 Shegts-Sheet 1 l VAL ABROWNING March 22, 1949. v. A. BROWNING 2,4591% I SELF-LOADING RECOIL-OPERATED FIREARM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 18, 1945 gwuo/wto'v VAL A. BROWNlNQ Patented Mar. 22, 1949 SELF-LOADING RECOIL-OPERATED FIREARM Val A. Browning, Ogden, Utah, assignor to J. M. & M. S. Browning Company, Ogden, Utah, a

corporation of Utah Application July 18, 1945, Serial No. 605,773

This invention relates to automatic firearms and has particular reference to a repeating shotgun of the type having a barrel and breech block adapted to recoil upon firing of the gun, and means for retarding the recoil movement of the barrel and then restoring it to its firing position.

The aim of the invention is to provide an improved firearm of this type having various features of novelty and advantage.

More particularly, aims of the invention are to provide an easy and quick takedown whereby the barrel may be easily removed and replaced without detaching the forearm or other parts from the receiver; to eliminate the unsightly forearm screw cap; to improve the appearance of the forearm by diminishing its bulk and streamlining the same; to make the gun lighter by using lighter weight springs and friction devices employed to retard the recoil movement of the barrel; to provide strong and durable springs to retard the recoil of the barrel after a shot has been fired and return the barrel to forward position; to provide bufier means for softening the shock incident to stopping the forward movement of the barrel without causing a chattering or vibration of the barrel; to soften or deaden the shock which ordinarily results when the breech block reaches its 18 Claims. (Cl. 89-177) to that shown in Fig. 1.

nates a tubular magazine disposed beneath the closed position, and to provide a simple yet ef-- l fective friction brake to retard velocity of the recoiling barrel and forward velocity of the barrel returning to battery.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemf plified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

The following description will be more readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar reference numerals refer to similar parts, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an automatic recoil-operated firearm embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the forward end of the receiver, the magazine, the latch for securing the barrel in place, and one of the recoil springs, the barrel and forearm being omitted;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the assembled receiver section of the firearm, the barrel being omitted;

Fig.4 is a vertical central sectional view through the firearm, the forward end of the barrel and the rear end of the receiver being broken away;

' more O1 1858 conventionally in the drawings.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the means for latching the barrel in place, the latch member being shown in depressed or open position;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 6-45 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. '7 is a rear view of the parts shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the invention shown is embodied in a firearm having a frame or receiver ID, a barrel II, and a stock l2. The barrel is provided at its rear end with a barrel extension l3. The barrel extension, as usual, extends through an opening in the forward end of the receiver. Although the specific embodiment shown in the drawing includes a separate barrel extension [3, it will be appreciated that this construction has been utilized merely for convenience in fabricating and assembling the firearm. The term barrel extension as used herein and in the claims is intended to mean and include the rear end or extension of the barrel which is associated with the receiver whether integral or formed as a separate piece, these being equivalent common alternatives well known in the art. The receiver is provided with the usual ejection opening (not shown) in the side opposite The numeral l5 desigbarrel and having its rear end secured in the front end of the receiver, as by means of screw threads l6. Within the receiver and behind the barrel is a breech block ll which may be of any suitable construction, the same being shown A locking block (not shown) may be provided for locking the breech block to the barrel extension so that the same will recoil in unison upon firing a shell, whereupon the breech block will become disengaged from the barrel and complete its recoil movement while the barrel is returning to "battery. Then the breech block will be moved forwardly to its breech closing position, as by means of an action spring, also not shown. The gun will also be provided with a carrier (not shown) for receiving a rearmost shell from the magazine and moving it into the barrel extension whereupon the advancing breech block will move the shell into the firing chamber of the barrel.

The numeral 20 designates the forearm which houses the magazine and which is slotted at its top so as to straddle the lower portion of the barrel. The forearm, adjacent its forward end, is provided with a bore 21 which closely receives the forward end of the magazine. The forearm is secured to the forward end of the magazine by a screw 22, which threads into a plug 24 fixed in the forward end of the magazine. The screw extends through the front wall 25 of the forearm and bettoms thereagainst. The forearm is recessed as at 26 so as to accommodate the head of the screw, and this permits the forward end of the forearm to be nicely rounded or curved, giving it a streamlined appearance. The rear end of the forearm straddles the receiver and is secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by means of screws 2:1. Mortised within the forearm and engaging the shoulder provided at the rear end'of the bore 2! is a stop member in the form of a ring 28 against which a slide 29 is adapted'to abut.

Closely encircling, but slidable on, the rearend of the magazine and adapted to abut against the forward end of the receiver isa block or member 30. In order that the invention may be fully understood, it is desired to point out that, .in the event that the particular firearm does not have a magazine, any other suitable support for the block or member 312 may be utilized, such as a guide rod or the like, in the place of the magazine. This block serves to carry the takedown latch 32 and the takedown lever 33. There are two recoil springs 3| the same being respectively disposed on opposite sides of the magazine adjacent the upper edge thereof. They are housed within the forearm. These springs are of relatively small diameter but are relatively stiff so as to properly retard and cushion the recoil movement of the barrel. The rear ends of the springs engage the front face of the block 36, and their forward ends engage against friction collars 3s. The forward ends of these collars are tapered, and these tapered portions are .received by the tapered recesses 35 provided in the rear end of the slide 29. The collars are split at one side, as at 35. The slide comprises a relatively small piece positioned above the magazine. Extending through the springs and the friction collars are guide rods 38. The rear ends of these guide rods are threaded into openings 39 in the block 36 so that relative movement between the guide rods and the block is prevented. The forward ends .of the guide rods slidably extend through'the friction collars and holes in the slide 29 and into openings or bores 4| provided in the ring 23. The guide rods have a relatively close Sliding fit in the bores 4! whereby their forward ends are properly supported and guided. The forearm is provided with bores 42 aligned with the bores 44 and adapted to accommodate the front ends of the guide rods.

In accordance with the present invention, the barrel is detachab-ly connected to the slide in such manner that, when the .takedown latch is moved to unlatched position, the barrel may be dismounted by merely drawing the barrel forwardly relative to the receiver. In the present illustrative disclosure, the barrel, between its ends, is provided with a depending lug 44 of inverted T-shape cross section, as shown most clearly in Figs. 4 and 6. The slide is provided in its top with a groove 45 corresponding in cross section to the lug 44. The forward end of the groove is open so that the lug may be inserted in the groove, in the act of assembling the barrel to the receiver, by aligning the lug with the groove and the barrel extension with the receiver and then moving the barrel rearwardly until the rear end of the lug engages the rear wall 46 of the groove.

The barrel extension has a bottom surface .or

face 50 adapted to slide on an upwardly directed 'tive to the receiver.

surface 5| provided on the receiver. At the forward end of the face or surface 50 is a vertical shoulder 52 and, at the rear end of the face 50 is an upwardly and rearwardly inclined camming surface 53 the purpose of which will be described later. The block 33 has a top surface .54 which is substantially aligned with the face 5| .of the receiver. The block has a transverse groove 55 in its top wall and grooves 56 in its side walls for accommodating the latch 32 which is in the form of an inverted U-shaped piece. Associated with the latch is suitable means for manually moving the same downwardly out of the way of the shoulder 52 when it is desired to dismount the barrel. This means, in the present'instances, is shown, for illustrative purposes, as comprising the take-down lever 33. This lever has a curved yoke 51 pivoted between the lower ends of the arms of the latch, as by pins 58. Extending forwardly from the central portion of the yoke is an arm 59 having, on its forward end, a finger piece 5!]. The upper edges provided on the ends of the yoke 5! engage against a downwardly facing shoulder 6| provided on the block 30 so that, when the lever 33 is swung downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5, the yoke will fulcrum on the shoulder GI and the latch will be drawn to the unlatched position shown in Fig. 5. The latch is .normally urged to upward or latching position by helical springs 62 carried 'by the block and bearing against the under face of the cross portion of the latch.

When a shell is fired, the barrel recoils, and due to the engagement of the rear end of the lug 44' against the rear wall d6 of the groove in the slide 29, the slide moves back with the barrel, thereby compressing the recoil springs and contracting the friction collars against the spring guides so as to retard the recoiling movement of the barrel. After the completion of the recoil movement of the barrel, the recoil springs force the slide 29 forwardly together with the barrel and thus bring the slide to rest against the ring 28. The barrel tends to continue its forward movement after the slide has been brought to its forward position of rest, with the result that the shoulder 52 of the barrel extension will engage the rear edge of the cross portion of the latch 32 and, since the block may slide forwardly on the magazine, the springs come into 'play to cushion and limit the forward movement of the barrel and return the barrel to correct battery position. As the guides 38 are fixed to, and move with, the block 39, and these rods extend through the friction collars 34, the friction exerted by the collars against the rods dampens any tendency of the springs to rapidly vibrate longitudinally and thereby prevents chattering of the barrel. Furthermore, after the barre1 has been brought to battery position, the breech block is moved forwardly by the-action spring with a sharp movement against the rear end of the barrel, and this may cause some shock or jar. This shock is relieved because the barrel can yield slightly forwardly. The recoil springs are of sufficient strength to alwaysreturn the barrel and breech block to :proper battery position.

When .it is desired to remove the barrel from the remainder of the firearm, it is merely necessary to swing the lever .33 downwardly and rearwardly and then pull the barre1 forwardly rela- When this is done, the lug 44 rides forwardly out of the groove 45, and the barrel extension moves over the block 30 and the depressed latch and out of the receiver. When it is desired to again replace the barrel, it is merely necessary to align the lug 44 with the groove in the slide and the barrel extension with the opening in the receiver and then move the barrel rearwardly with respect to th receiver. When this is done, the beveled edge or surface 53 on the barrel extension will cam the latch 32 downwardly out of the way, and when the barrel extension has been moved to position rearwardly of the latch, the latch automatically springs up to the locking position shown in Fig. 4. It is not necessary at this time to manually operate the takedown lever 33.

It will be seen that, with my improved construction, the recoil springs are so located that the forearm need not be increased in width over what is necessary to properly house the magazine, which is not true of older structures wherein the recoil springs encircle the magazine tubes. The relatively small-diameter springs 3|, together with their guide rods, are of materially less weight than is the usual recoil spring about the magazine, and thus the firearm is further lightened. At the same time, the springs effectively perform their functions. The slide 29 is entirely supported by the guides or rods 38 which in turn are supported at their rear ends by the block and at their forward ends by the stop member or ring 28 fixed in the forearm. Thus, the slide has a fixed line of movement longitudinally of the magazine, and the barrel, since it is connected to the slide so as to move therewith, is held against other than longitudinal movement. The recoil springs not only serve to take care of the recoil and return movements of the barrel, but also cushion the forward movement of the barrel and the breech block. The barrel may be removed without in any Way disturbing the rest of the assembly and, particularly, there is no necessity of dismantling the forearm for the purpose of taking ofi the barrel. The barrel may be mounted by merely slipping it in place.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a firearm, a receiver provided at its front end with an opening, a barrel having a barrel extension mounted for reciprocation in said receiver and constructed and arranged to be removed through said opening, a slide spaced forwardly from said receiver and disposed below said barrel, a recoil spring behind said slide and normally urging the same to a forward position, means for limiting forward movement of the slide to said forward position, a latch mechanism having a latch member cooperating with said barrel extension for preventing the same from being removed forwardly through said opening and means for manually moving the latch member to open position, said slide having an undercut groove open at its forward end and closed at its rear end, and a lug depending from said barrel between its ends and arranged to fit in said groove when the firearm is assembled and to be drawn forwardly through the open end thereof during the operation of dismounting the barrel.

2. In a firearm, a, receiver provided at its front end with an opening, a barrel having a barrel extension mounted for reciprocation in said receiver and constructed and arranged to be removed through said opening, said barrel extension having a forwardly facing shoulder below the barrel, a slide spaced forwardly from said receiver and disposed below the barrel, a recoil spring behind said slide and normally urging the same to forward position, means for limiting forward movement of the slide to said forward position; a latch mechanism having a latch member normally disposed in the line of movement of said shoulder against which said shoulder engages when the barrel is in battery position, and means for manually moving the latch member downwardly to non-latching position; and a connection engaging said barrel and slide, said connection being constructed and arranged to permit the barrel to be moved forwardly out of engagement with the slide when the latch member is in non-latching position.

3. In a firearm, a receiver provided at its front end with an opening, a barrel having a barrel extension mounted for reciprocation in said receiver and constructed and arranged to be removed through said opening, said barrel extension below the barrel having a forwardly facing shoulder at its forward end and an upwardly and rearwardly inclined rear edge, a slide spaced forwardly from said receiver and disposed below the barrel, a recoil spring behind said slide and normally urging the same to forward position, means for limiting forward movement of the slide to said forward position; a latch mechanism having a latch member normally disposed in the line of movement of said shoulder against which said shoulder engages when the barrel is in battery position, means for urging the latch member to latching position and means for manually moving the latch member to non-latching position; and a connection engaging said barrel and slide, said connection being constructed and arranged to permit the barrel to be moved forwardly out of engagement with the slide when the latch member is in non-latching position, said upwardly and rearwardly inclined rear edge being arranged to cam the latch member out of the way of the barrel extension during the operation of assembling the barrel to the receiver.

4. In a firearm, a receiver provided at its front end with an opening, a barrel having a barrel ex tension mounted for reciprocation in said receiver and constructed and arranged to be removed through said opening, said barrel extension having a forwardly facing shoulder below the barrel, a slide spaced forwardly from said receiver and disposed below the barrel, a recoil spring behind said slide and normally urging the same to forward position, means for limiting forward movement of the slide to said forward position, a latch mechanism having a latch member normally disposed in the line of movement of said shoulder against which said shoulder engages when the barrel is in battery position and means for manually moving the latch member downwardly to non-latching position, said slide having an undercut groove open at its forward end and closed at its rear end, and a lug depending from said barrelbetweenits ends and arranged to fit in said groove when the firearm is assembled and to be drawn forwardly through the open end thereof during the operation of dismounting the barrel.

5. In a firearm, a receiver provided at its front end with an opening, a barrel having .a barrel extension mounted for reciprocation in said re ceiver and constructed and arranged to be removed through said opening, said barrel extension having at its forward end a forwardly facing shoulder disposed below said barrel, a magazine carried by said receiver and disposed below said barrel, a slide spaced forwardly from said receiver and disposed below said barrel, a recoil spring behind said slide and normally urging the same to a forward position, means for limiting forward movement of said slide, a block carried by said magazine and abutting against the forward end of said receiver, a U-shaped latch member straddling said block and guided thereby for vertical movement, the cross portion of the latch member when raised being in the line of movement of said shoulder, means normally urging the latch member upwardly to latching position, a takedown lever pivotally connected to the lower end of the arms of said latch member, and a connection interengaging said barrel and slide, said connection being constructed and arranged to permit the barrel to be moved forwardly out of engagement with the slide when the latch member is in non-latching position.

6. In a firearm, a receiver, a barrel having a barrel extension mounted for reciprocation in the receiver, said barrel extension having at its forward end a forwardly facing shoulder, a block mounted at the forward end of the receiver for movement longitudinally of the firearm and having a rearwardly facing shoulder against which said first shoulder is constructed and arranged to abut when the barrel moves forwardly to battery position, a slide spaced forwardly from said block and operatively connected to said barrel, said slide and barrel being movable rearwardly from battery position during recoil, means for limiting forward movement of said slide, and a recoil spring disposed between said block and slide and normally urging the block rearwardly against the receiver and normally urging the slide together with the barrel connected thereto forwardly.

7. In a firearm, a receiver, a barrel having a barrel extension mounted for reciprocation in the receiver, said barrel extension having at its forward end a forwardly facing shoulder, a block mounted at the forward end of the receiver for movement longitudinally of the firearm and having a rearwardly facing shoulder against which said first shoulder is adapted to abut when the barrel moves forwardly to battery position, a slide spaced forwardly from said block and operatively connected to said barre-l, said slide and barrel being movable rearwardly from battery position during recoil, a recoil spring disposed between said block and slide and normally urging the block rearwardly against the receiver and normally urging slide together with the barrel connected thereto forwardly, means for limiting forward movement of the slide, and a friction brake associated with said spring for reducing the shock when the barrel is recoiling and during the return of the barrel to battery position and for preventing chattering when the shoulder on the barrel is brought into engagement with the shoulder on the block.

8. In a firearm, a receiver, a barrel having a barrel extension mounted for reciprocation in the receiver, said barrel extension having at its forward end a forwardly facing shoulder, a block mounted at the forward end of the receiver for movement longitudinally of the firearm and having a rearwardly facing shoulder against which said first shoulder is adapted to abut when the barrel moves forwardly to battery position, a slide spaced forwardly from said block and operatively connected to said barrel, said barrel and slide being constructed and arranged to move rearwardly from battery position during recoil, means for limiting forward movement of said slide, a friction collar engaging said slide, a recoil spring bearing at its rear end against said block and at its forward end against said friction collar, and a guide for said spring connected to the block and extending through said collar.

9. In a firearm, a receiver, a barrel having a barrel extension mounted for reciprocation in the receiver, a tubular magazine disposed below the barrel and connected to the receiver, a forearm housing the magazine, said barrel extension having below the barrel a forwardly facing shoulder, a block slidably mounted on the magazine and locate-d at the forward end of the receiver and having a rearwardly facing shoulder against which said first shoulder is adapted to abut when the barrel moves forwardly to battery position, a slide spaced forwardly of said block and positioned between the barrel and the magazine and operatively connected to .said barrel, said barrel and slide being constructed and arranged to move rearwardly from battery position during recoil, a shoulder on the forearm for limiting forward movement of the slide to a forward position, said slide having an opening with a tapered recess at its rear end, a split friction collar engaging in said recess, a guide rod connected at its rear end to the block and extending at its forward end through the friction collar and into said opening, and a recoil spring about said guide rod and bearing at its rear end against said block and at its forward end against the rear end of said friction collar.

10. In a firearm, a receiver provided at its front end with an opening, a barrel having a barrel extension mounted for reciprocation in said receiver and constructed and arranged to be removed through said opening, a block mounted at the forward end of the receiver for movement longitudinally of the firearm, a slide spaced forwardly from said receiver and disposed below said barrel, a recoil spring between said slide and normally urging the slide to a forward position and the block against the receiver, means for limiting forward movement of the slide to said forward position, a latch mechanism carried by said block and having a latch member cooperating with said barrel extension for preventing the same from being removed forwardly through said opening and means for manually moving the latch member to open position, and a connection interengaging said barreland slide arranged to permit the barrel to be moved longitudinally forwardly out of engagement with the slide when the latch member is in open position.

11. In a firearm, a receiver provided at its front end with an opening, a barrel having a barrel extension mounted for reciprocation in said receiver and constructed and arranged to be removed through said opening, said barrel extension having a forwardly facing shoulder below said barrel, a block mounted at the forward end of the receiver for movement longitudinally of the firearm, a slide spaced forwardly from said receiver and disposed below said barrel, a recoil spring between said slide and block and normally urging the slide to a forward position and the block against the receiver, means for limiting forward movment of the slide to said forward position, a latch member carried, by said block and normally disposed in the line of movement of said shoulder and against which said shoulder engages when the barrel is in battery position, means for manually moving the'latch. member to open position, said slide having an undercut groove open at its forward end and closed at its rear end, and a lug depending from said barrel between its ends and received in said groove and arranged to be drawn forwardly through the open end thereof during the operation of dismounting the barrel.

12. In a firearm, a receiver provided at its forward end with an opening, a barrel having a barrel extension mounted for reciprocation in said receiver and constructed and arranged to be removed through said opening, a magazine carried by said receiver and disposed below said barrel, a forearm housing said magazine and secured thereto, a block at the forward end of the receiver and slidably mounted on said magazine, a slide spaced forwardly of said receiver and disposed between said barrel and magazine, a rearwardly facing shoulder on said forearm for limiting the forward movement of said slide, a recoil spring between said slide and block and normally urging the slide forwardly against said shoulder and the block rearwardly against the receiver, a latch member carried by said block cooperating with said barrel extension for preventing the same from being removed forwardly through said opening, means for manually moving the latch member to non-latch position, and an operative connection interengaging the central portion of said barrel and said slide and arranged to permit the barrel to be moved forwardly out of engagement with the slide when the latch member is in non-latching position.

13. In a firearm, a receiver, a barrel having a barrel extension mounted for reciprocation in the receiver, a tubular magazine disposed below the barrel and connected to the receiver, a forearm housing the magazine, said barrel extension having below the barrel a forwardly facing shoulder, a block slidably mounted on the magazine and located at the forward end of the receiver. a take-down latch on said block having a rearwardly facing shoulder against which said first shoulder is adapted to abut when the barrel moves forwardly to battery position, resilient means for urging the latch to operative position, a takedown lever for moving the latch to nonlatching position, a slide spaced forwardly of said block and positioned between the barrel and the magazine, a connection interengaging the slide and barrel arranged to permit the barrel to be moved forwardly out of engagement with the slide when the latch is in non-latching position, a shoulder on the forearm for limiting forward movement of the slide to a forward position, said slide having an opening with a tapered recess at its rear end, a split friction collar engaging in said recess, a guide rod connected at its rear end to the block and extending at its forward end through the friction collar and into said opening, and a recoil spring about said guide rod and bearing at its rear end against said block 10 and at its forwar'd'end against the rear end of said friction collar.

14. In a firearm, a receiver, a barrel having a barrel extension mounted for reciprocation in said receiver, a tubular magazine below said barrel and connected to said receiver, a forearm connected to and housing said magazine and having a stop member fixed thereto at each side of the magazine with a bore extending longitudinally of the magazine, aslide spaced forwardly from said receiver and positioned between said barrel and magazine and operatively connected to the barrel, said slide having openings aligned with said bores, friction collars in the rear ends of said openings, a pair of guide rods at opposite sides of the barrel and supported at their rear ends and. extending through said collars and openings and into said bores, and recoil springs about the guide rods and abutting at their forward ends against the rear ends of said collars.

15. In a firearm, a receiver, a barrel slidably engaged at its rear end on the receiver and disengageable therefrom by longitudinal movement forwardly from the receiver, a slidable support at an intermediate portion of the barrel forwardly of the receiver, means interengaging said support and barrel when the barrel is engaged on the receiver and disengageable when the barrel is moved longitudinally therefrom, and manually releasable latch means for preventing longitudinal movement of the barrel forwardly from the receiver.

6. In a firearm having a receiver and a barrel, means for supporting the barrel for reciprocating movement with respect to the receiver comprising a slidable support at an intermediate portion of the barrel forwardly of the receiver, a supporting surface on the receiver for slidably supporting the rear end of the barrel, means interengaging the slidable support and the barrel when the barrel is moved longitudinally rearwardly thereon and on the said supporting surface, and manually releasable latch means at the receiver for retaining the barrel in said interengaging position.

17. In a firearm, a receiver, a barrel having its rear end mounted for reciprocation on the receiver, a slide spaced forwardly from said receiver and disposed below said barrel, a recoil spring behind said slide and normally urging the same to a forward position, means for limiting forward movement of the slide to said forward position, a latch mechanism having a latch member cooperating with the rear end of said barrel for preventing the same from being separated forwardly from said receiver and means for manually moving the latched member to open position, and a connection interengaging said barrel and slide constructed and arranged to permit the barrel to be moved longitudinally forwardly out of engagement with the slide when the latched member is in open position.

18. In a firearm, a receiver, a barrel having its rear end mounted for reciprocation on said receiver and constructed and arranged to be separated therefrom by longitudinal movement for wardly of the receiver, a guide carried by said receiver and disposed below said barrel, a forearm housing said guide and secured thereto. a slide spaced forwardly of said receiver and disposed between said barrel and guide, a rearwardly facing shoulder on said forearm for limiting the forward movement of said slide, a recoil spring behind said slide and normally urging the. same forwardly against saidv shoulder, a; latch REFERENCES CITED mechanism constructed and arranged for pre-- venting the barrel from being operated forward- The following references are of record in the lyfrom the receiver and means for manually file Of this patent? moving the latch member to non-latching posi- 5 UNITED T TES PATENTS tion, and. an operative connection interengaging the. central portion of said barrel and said slide, Number m Date said connection being constructed and arranged 659'507 Browntng 1900, to permit the barrel. to be moved forwardly out 812326 Bmwnmg 1906 of engagement with the slide when the latch 1 gagg a, member 1s in non latchingposltlon. 1,128,180 Orman- Feb. 9, 1915,

VAL A Frommer Sept. 20, 

